CLUB RECORD FOR REDS IN OPENING CUP DEFENCE

Reigning League Cup holders Cliftonville kicked off yet another defence of the trophy with a club record 11-1 defeat of Premier Intermediate League opponents Lisburn Distillery at Solitude.

The Reds almost opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute when Chris Curran turned the ball against the crossbar while Stephen Garrett and David McDaid also had chances.

But the opening goal did come on 29 minutes courtesy of a Chris Ramsey finish after 'keeper Jack McCrea spilled a downward header.

The floodgates well and truly opened after that. McDaid struck twice in an as many minutes before the break to give Gerard Lyttle's side a comfortable lead at the break.

On 39 minutes he made it 2-0 with a scrappy finish from a Garrett left-sided cross while, soon after, he tapped in number three after Tomas Cosgrove had created the opportunity.

He then claimed his hat-trick on 47 minutes from the spot after he had been brought down whilst trying to reach a Curran cross.

Cliftonville's fifth arrived on 58 minutes amid some confusion after a corner came over from the right but Jaimie McGovern was later credited as getting the last touch.

And still the goals came. Garrett opened his account on 67 minutes after he raced clear to take the ball past McCrea.

The Whites did pull a goal back on 71 minutes thanks to a Mason McSorley volley from the edge of the box but within a matter of minutes Curran added another for the Reds from inside the box.

Jude Winchester made it 8-1 on 77 minutes after a short corner reached him on the edge of the area before substitute Gary Donnelly knocked in a ninth moments later.

Another substitute, Aaron Donnelly, provided the assist for Garrett to fire the Reds into double figures on 83 minutes- and there was still time for Garrett to grab a hat-trick of his own when he fired through the wall from 25 yards with three minutes remaining to complete the scoring.